Valve construction



- Feb-1 0, 1942. R. F. wlLsoN VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 6, 1959 ATTORNEYS l Patented Feb. l0, 1942 VALVE CONSTRUCTKON Robert F. Wilson, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio p Application February 6, 1939, Serial No. 254,818

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to valves for Y pneumatic tires.

Pneumatic tires, of course, sometimes go flat and in such cases the tire will usually be rotated a short distance while ilat before the car on which the .tire is mounted can be halted. During this interval of rotation when at, the tube in the pneumatic tire is subjected to severe strains. That is, the tube is compressed at the bottom of the tire, while atthe same time there is a force attempting to produce relative rotation between the tire and tube and the wheel. In all events, the tube has a rotational force thereon which will at least distort the tube in case the tube is not free for rotation. The only element positively preventing rotation of the tube, when the tire is nat, is the valve which is engaged with the rim on the. wheel assembly. When this valve is freed from the rim then the tube can be moved relative to the rim, wheel, or tire and it generally has considerably less stress set-up therein than when it is flxedly held against rotation.

Another objection to running tires 'when :dat is that the valve on the tire may be pressed into, and cut, the tube wall opposite to the valve, as the base of the valve is not covered by any protective coating.

The general object of this invention is to provide a valve for a pneumatic tube, which valve is adapted to free itself from the tire rim when the tire is deilated; also to reduce valve cutting of the tube when the wheel assembly is rotated when at. K

Another object of the invention is to provide a sturdy valve body which is freely pivotable about a point intermediate its lends to permit ready movement of its ends. Still another object is to provide a valve structure which is quite flexible, but which cannot be pushed entirely `through the aperture in the tire rim with which it is associated, when in a wheel assembly. Other objects will be manifest as the specification proceeds.

The invention will be dened particularly with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a valve embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionalong the center of the valve of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are top and bottom plans, respectively, of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of the invention, mounted on 'wheel e valve tube l0 is shown, said tube being of stand-` ard construction and having a threaded upper 1 end portion Il and a roughened exterior surface i2 adjacent the base or bottom portion of the valve tube. A rubber body, or sleeve i3, o'f any suitable composition, is integral with and surrounds the valve tube lil. The rubber body I3 preferably is vulcanized to the valve tube by any known method, the roughened surface I2 of the valve tube strengthening the bond between the rubber and the valve tube. A flange ma may be formed on the upper'portion of the valve tube iii, as shown, to aid in securing the rubber body to the valve tube'.

Figure 2 best shows that a circular flange ifi is formed on the rubber body i3 to facilitate securing the valve of the invention to the wall of an inner tube oi a pneumatic tire. The flange portion it naturally is of larger diameter than tube tu. it will be observed that the rubber. .body it extends a slight distance lbelow the valve tube to protect or coverthe base thereof.

To free the valve tube for movement at the ends thereof, e, circular recess i5 is formed 'in thebase of the rubber body i3 and it extends into the rubber body to a point substantially in the plane of the upper portion of the flange l5. This recess i5 is of appreciable width; as seen in Figure 2, and is spaced from the metal valve tube it by a thin layer of rubber. Figure 2 shows that a unit is formed by the valve tube and the portion of the rubber body I3 immediately adjacent or surrounding it and the outer portion of the iange le, as determined by the recess l5, is substantially separate from the unit so formed. However, the portion of the rubber body i3 between the valve tube ill and the ange it vconnects them in aiiexible manner so that relative movement therebetween is permitted as the valve tube is fulcrumed on said portion of the rubber body. in other Words, the ends of the valve tube it are readily movable, orl distortibie from their normal perpendicular relationship to the ange it. This characteristic of the valve tube is highly desirable as it permits valve body to be distorted when the tube iated en a Wheei asseinbiy. Then the die ci valve tube valve 4assembly permits the valve assembly to slide from the aperture in the rim in which it normally is inserted. This reduces stresses in the tube when the wheel assembly is run while fiat and is very desirable in present wheel assemblies;

In Figure 5 the valve of the invention is shown secured to the wall of an ordinary inner tube I6. It is seen that the curvature of the lower portion of the flange I'4 permits a smooth connection to be formed between the rubber body I3 and the wall. shown) vand the tire and tube are mounted on a standard rim I8. The valve of the tube is inserted through a hole I9 in the rim, as shown, 'Of course, when the tube I6 is inflated, there is considerable pressure attempting to force the valve Tube I6 is mounted in a tire (not l completely through the hole I9 in the rim. 'I'o prevent this from occurring, a metal ferrule is placed over, and snugly fits on. the upper portion of the valve body I0, as shown. The ferrule is substantially frusta-conical in shape and` has a base flange 2I formed thereon which engages with the portion of the rim defining the hole I9 and acts to transmit the outwardly directed' force on the valve to the rim. This prevents the air pressure in the tube II from forcing the valve through the rim. Another desirable function of the ferrule 20 is evident when the Wheel assembly with which it is associated 'is run while flat. The

metallic surface of the ferrule has a low coeilcient of friction with the face of the hole in the rim so that it slides readily over such surface and facilitates disengagement of the valve and rim. In fact, the metal ferrule and the construction of the valve which facilitates movement of the ends of the valve combine to insure, practically, disengagement of the valve and the rim and permit relative movement therebetween when the wheel assembly is run while fiat. The short length of valve tube I 0 also contributes to this disengaging action. l

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a valve having novel and desirable characteristics has been provided and that the objects of the invention have been realized. While a written description and illustration of one 'embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve for: a pneumatic tire comprising a metal valve tube, a sleeve of rubber circumscribing and integral with said valve tube, said rubber sleeve having a flange extending an appreci, able distance therefrom intermediate its endsfa rubber protuberance extending from said flange toward the base of said tube, the thickness ofv said protuberance gradually decreasing from said flange to the base of the valve, said protuberance having an annular recess extendingv around said valve tube and an appreciable distance into said protuberance from lits base whereby the unit formed by said valve tube and' the rubber in contact therewith can be pivoted at said rubber gral with said valve tube, said rubber body having a circular flange formed thereon which is of maximum diameter intermediate the ends of said valve-tube and which decreases gradually in diameter towards the base of said valve tube where# by the flanged portion adjacent th^ base of said valve tube forms a surface adapted to be-secured to the wall of a pneumatic inner tube and form a smooth connection therewith, the bases of said rubber body and valve tube extending into the pneumatic tube, with which it is associated, an appreciable distance.

3. In a wheel assembly including a rim having a hole therethrough, a tire, and a tube, the combination of a valve tube secured to said tube and extending through the hole in said rim, a rubber body binding said valve tube to said tube, said rubber body having a recess in it around the base of said valve tube, and a metal ferrule positioned upon saidvalve tube andengaging with the walls defining the hole in said rim to pre- `vent said valve tube from being forced therethrough.

4. A valve for a pneumatic tire or tube comprising a valve tube, and a rubber body encircling said valve tube, said `rubber body having an annular recess extending into the base thereof around said valve tube and a ange formed thereon intermediate the ends of said valve tube for securing the valve to a pneumatic tube, said recess extending into said rubber body only to approximately the plane of said ange whereby said valve tube is readily movable relative to the portion of the pneumatic tube with which it is nassociated due to the annular recess formed in said rubber body.

5,. A valve for a pneumatic tire comprising a metal valve tube, and a rubber sleeve bonded to andvmounting said valve tube, said` tube extend--l ing substantially the length of the rubber sleeve,

said rubber sleeve being appreciably enlarged at one end to form` a substantially conical protuberance thereon the base of which is approximately in the middle of the valve, an annular recess being formed in said protuberance around said valve tube, which recess extends into said rubber protuberance to about the base thereof whereby said valve tube and the portion of said rubber sleeve bonded thereto can be readily piv oted about the base of said protuberance.

6. In combination, a pneumatic tube' and a" valve assembly secured to said tube and extending into same, said valve assembly comprising a metal valve tube, and a lrubber body encompassing said valve tube adjacent an end thereof which extends into said tube, said rubber body having a thick flange formed thereon adjacent the inflange and the ends of said unit be given appreciable movement.

2. A rubber protuberance extending from said flange toward the base of said tube. comprising a valve tube, a rubber body surrounding and inte ner en d of said valve tube and gradually increasing in diameter from its axially inner to its axially outer surface, said ange having a su stantially planar axially outer surface which has 4a feather edgesaid valve assembly being secured to said pneumatic tubeby the tapered surfacecf said flange being superimposed on said pneul" matic tubewith the outer surface of said flange being substantially flush with the adjacent outer 4surface of said pneumatic tube when said pneumatic tube is confined and inflated, whereby saidv valve assembly extends in both directions from the surface of said pneumatic tube.

ROBERT F.l wilson.

CERTIFICATE OF C ORRECTI ON Patent No. 2,272,886. February 1o, 191m.-

ROBERT F. wILsoN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, lines "(0 and 71, claim 2, for "A rubber protuberance extending `from said flange toward the. base of said tube, read "In combination, a pneumatic tube, and a valve assembly, said valve assemb1y; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 25rd day vof June, A. D. 19m.

Henry Van 1x1-saaie,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

